Does Milken Institute pay their employees well?

According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Milken Institute employees rate their compensation and benefits as 3.8 out of 5. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Milken Institute. This rating has improved by 16% over the last 12 months.

How satisfied are employees working at Milken Institute?

67% of Milken Institute employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews . Employees also rated Milken Institute 3.5 out of 5 for work life balance, 3.1 for culture and values and 3.3 for career opportunities.

What are the top reviewed jobs at Milken Institute?

Senior Associate (10) , Associate Director (9) , Director (9) , Intern (7) , Associate (5) , Executive Assistant (3) , Executive Director (3) , Business and Program Development (2) , Senior Research Analyst (2)

What are the pros of working at Milken Institute according to real employee reviews?

"The people are great." ((in 10 reviews)); "Good work/ life balance" ((in 6 reviews)); "great team to work with." ((in 6 reviews)); "Pay is decent for a non" ((in 4 reviews)); "Great mentorship experience and strong emphasis on giving back and learning from senior leadership." ((in 3 reviews))

What are the cons of working at Milken Institute according to real employee reviews?

"Nepotism is blatant and rampant" ((in 6 reviews)); "Low salary and no bonus structure." ((in 6 reviews))

What are employees saying about Milken Institute layoffs in 2026?

Explore Glassdoor’s employee reviews to understand what current and former employees are saying about Milken Institute layoffs and their outlook for job security at Milken Institute in 2026.

What are the top reviewed Milken Institute locations?

Santa Monica , Washington , Los Angeles , Riverton , New York , Moorpark , Manhattan Beach

Milken Institute reviews

3.4

67% would recommend to a friend

(93 total reviews)

Richard Ditizio

69% approve of CEO

55% positive business outlook

Ratings by demographic groups

Race / Ethnicity

Gender

Sexual orientation

Disability

Parent or family caregiver

Veteran status

Milken Institute has an employee rating of 3.4 out of 5 stars, based on 93 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Milken Institute employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Nonprofit & NGO industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

93 reviews

1.0

Nov 11, 2020

The most toxic workplace- very little thinking for a think tank

Program management

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Salary is competitive and you are able to network with high level individuals especially in finance.

Cons

Harassment and bullying are pervasive and any attempt to report is met with punitive action. Many coworkers have developed serious mental health issues in response to the toxic environment. Most of the people in decision making roles know very little about the field and completely ignore the expertise and experience of those in more junior roles. There is very little being accomplished other than fundraising and holding mediocre events (refusal to pivot or innovate during the changing world). Even though centers are full of passionate experts in the field, their skills are incredibly underutilized to the point where professional development is at risk. Listen to every negative review! The slight pros are not worth complete unhappiness nearly every working moment.

Milken Institute Response

5y

We are very sorry for the experience that you had at the Milken Institute and we appreciate you taking the time to provide this feedback. Please contact us at HR-Staff@themi.org should you wish to discuss your experience further.

2.0

Nov 23, 2021

MI is a "What the Top 3 People Think" Tank

Director

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Most junior and mid-level staff is highly qualified and passionate. Excellent travel opportunities. Dependent on Center leadership, good work/life balance. Excellent fodder for the dinner table on how mediocre white men are promoted in a patriarchal system. First-hand observances of how capitalism fosters inequity. You will understand inside jokes on shows like Succession and Billions.

Cons

Regardless of the facts or data, leadership at MI truly excels in sticking to whatever narrative they chose and believe in. Nepotism is rampant. Toxic people are rewarded based on looks and presentation, and rise to the top of the organization. New and creative thinking is disregarded. The ideas coming out of this "think tank" are old.

1.0

Apr 20, 2011

Poisonous, rotten, unhealthy work environment

Anonymous employee

Recommend

CEO approval

Business Outlook

Pros

Office location (close to Third St. Promenade) Access to annual Global Conference + complimentary tickets for 2 guests Access to interesting people

Cons

Incompetent senior staff No opportunities for professional growth Questionable fundraising practices Some senior staff never held accountable for their mismanagement of work/people Lack of transparency of the organization

Viewing 4 - 6 of 93 Reviews

Jobs at Milken Institute

Director, Catering & Special Events

Associate, Advancement